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East Oregonian Round-Up Souvenir Edition
Pendleton, Oregon, Thursday, "September 23, 1920
Page Beven
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UMATILLA INDIANS FIRST LEARNED OF CHRISTIANITYfROM DR. WHITMAN
r
" . l!!"aM'"wiK. '. " . " ".
Tutuilla Mission Directed for Many years by Rev. 3. M. Oornclison, Has Accomplished Much.
twwirlSly su ' JL 7 - bi
; . (By-Rev. J. M. Cornellnon).
. Back to the Rttrrlnir-day. In tho
aiKhtlea, when Dr. Marcua Whitman
and Rev. H.- K. Moulding ri-oml the
plnln to teach phiintlarilty to the let'
dlun, date the 'bfftrlnntng'of mliwilon
ary work unon( the Umatilla Indian
of the reaervatlon.
Moat people In the Norlhwcat know
In ffeqeral way about the early m1
alon work among the Indiana, begun
In 1836 by !". Whitman and Hev.
' Bpauldlng lw cumo west In that year
with, their youruf bride, . They a!no
know that on Nov,' 27, 1847 Dr. and
Mr Whitman, twfrther lth about a
dozen other were ' maJwncred at
Walllatpu where a mliwlnn church and
"achonl had been begun for the chrla
tlanlKatlon and education of the In
diana. lXw people have read furthor
of rementber any more relative to the
Indian mlaaion work ao bravely begun
and carried on by Dr. Whitman. Tho
general Imjireiwkm haa gone forth
that the RiliMlon work wan dropped at
- the time of the maaeacre at Walllatpu.
. near Walla Walla Waah.. and that
: Whitman College waa later built up at
, TValla Walla In honor of Dr. Whitman;
and that, nothing ever became tf hta
mlulon venture. Juch Is wide of the
real truth. It haprwned that Dr.
Whitman and Itev. HpaUlding were
eent out aa mlHHionarien under the Am
ertcan Board of - COm'mlieilonfra for
Foreign Mlaelona whrch wna the joint
MifMlon Board of tw )ngrcgatloiial
and Irebytjrian Miurvhe.
tiiurclica fionaratrd
"When the two churches aeparated
their miKHlon work a few years later
the Indian mlmlnn work formerly at
Walllatpu, but Inter moved to the
Umatilla reservation, Ml 'to the lot of
the Presbyterian Home Mission Board,
as' also the Indian mission work on
the l-npwal reservation In Idaho which
was tieaun by Hev. and Mrs. Spaniel
lujt, co-laborera of Ir. and Mrs. Whit.
man. The good aeed sown, the gospel
preached, the devoted Uvea lived were
not In vain. Those of the Indians that
hr-d become Christiana under Dr.
Whitman kept up their religious faith.
The Christian flrea still burned In
many hearts. Prayers were offered
- up and gospel songs were sung around
many a topee fire aa the, years went
y. These faithful Christian people
were encouraged from time to time
by visits from Rev. Bpauldlng. some
Christian Indians or a minister trained
In the faith In Idaho whero a contem
porary mission work had been estab
lished by Rev and Mrs. Rpaulding
among tho Ne Perce. Tho Walllatpu
people later moved to the great grassy
plains and valley now called the Uma
tilla reservation for the reason that
they were rich In Cay use ponies. This
outstanding feature of their wealth ,ln
such ponies seems to have gotten them !
the name of Cayuse Indians among the
White settlers, so the name persists
til today, wne never hears the name
Walllatpu supplied to these people. -
On June 17, 182, through the help
of some visiting Nea Perce minister
and Rev. O. U Deffenbaugh who had
been missionary among .Jhe Nes
Perce- and at that time waa head of
the Oovernmefipgrfcool rm the-L'mattl
la Indian reservation, a church rganl
sat Ion was effected In the home of
Chre.f Wlnnamanoot. - Later a school
church was built on the Tutuilla flat.
or valley which served the people as
a place of worship til the new churcn
was built In 1902 In a new location.
During all this time from 1847 to 1882
a apace of 35 years, no organhted
mission work had been -done and no
white missionary had labored among
these people, yet the work of Dr. Whit
man still abided In the hearts of the
people. ' - -i ' "
IJcv. OncncHaon Accepts
' A. little over a half century had
passed when a few of the Christian
Indians made overture to the old
I-resbytery of Rastern Oregon, and
through It to the Homo Mission Board
of the Presbyterian church to send
them a missionary to live among them
who would learn their language
nd help them In every way possible.
This request was made In 1898. It
was granted and such a life work was
presented to the graduating class of
1899 at the Son Francisco Theological
Beminary at Ban Anselmo, Cat., One
young man of that class accepted the
Indian work and came to the field on
May 6, '1899. I was that young man
and I have been at the mission con
tinuously for the past tl years, with
the exception of about T6 months on
the way to and In France In Y. M. C.
A. war work. . Thus the mission work
at Tutuilla on tho Umatilla reservation
Is seen to be a continuation of the
Dr. Marcu Whitman mission ao early
cut down. Hut It had taken Just a
little over a half centruy for the
cjiuroh. and Christian people to wake
up to their responsibility and send a
REV. J. M. QORNELISON
f. "-". -TV
Y
to have been done so far as visible ro-Jand later on over the atrongest part
eulta were tnoerned. Jt seemed to of tha Hlpdenburg line where the St.'
Quintln canal runs through a five mile ;
Top view shows him as a Y. M. C.
A. worker pvemeus and the cut below
is one made f i oni a picture taken In
1903. . 1 ' ,
missionary to follow up the work so
boldly begun by Dr. Whitman and his
co-laborers. Yet tho present mission
has a more direct and tangible con
nection with Dr. Whitman. For many
years and down to the year 1908, Har
ah Mlhthorn, or Ipna-tsu-la-talkt who
was a puiill in the Marcus Whitman
school at Walllatpu was a member of
the Tutlulla church. . Several others
who are children of those who were
either, In the school, or hew Dr.
Whltmun are still faithful members of
the present Tutuilla church. When
soma of these Christian people thus
connected 'With the old Morcua Whit
man mission were taken to Walla
Walla In 190 when the Whitman
mounment was dedicated the people
of the city were much surprised to
know that there was such A mission J
In exlstance under the care of the
Presbyterian Home Mission Board.
Ilc-glna Mission Work -
Many time I have been asked how
I began the mission work among the
people here, and how I got my know
ledge of the Indian language. I have
in a way already explained how I be
gnn. The mission work had Just con
tinued after a fashion through all the
years after the mnssacre. I will admit
that It was after a very orry fashion
hat it continued, and at a very low
ebb. It la small wonder that it was
almost forgotten. Rut real credit Is
due those visiting Xes Perce minis
ters who gave help an dencourage
ment through all that dark half cen
tury with no white missionary to fol
low up and carry on the work. But
as to how I got the 'Writing and speak
ing knowledge of this Indian language
that is very assuredly, quite a differ
ent story. It In a very Interesting and
long story, too long for such an article
as this, so, 1 will have to pass it over
with saying. I got it very much like
another fellow told his friend how to
gt Jiclt quick. .The advice, to-. -the
friend waa "Work like the devil and
don't and a cent." It Is the same
process that must be used in getting
hold of an Indian language which Is
not a written language, and about
which no Indian knows enough to give
you any Instruction other than to In
terpret or to tell you the meaning of
the words. Absolutely no Indian here,
no matter how well he speaks the In
dian language, knows anything about
the grammatical construction of the
language.
' To learn any language so as to be
able to speak and write It one must
know it from a pramntloul standpoint.'
Yea that I exactly the way I learned
the Indian language. I worked like
the devil. I arrived in Pendleton May
S, 1899. I preached my first sermon
1n Indian about the second Handay in,
scptetnner or tne same year, just aooui
five months Inter. 1 taught these In
diana some brand new Indian they had'
never heard before. And they never
heard It again after I learned the lan
guage better: But they were patient
with my mistakes and encouraged me
by trying hard to understand m. So
the language came with mutual con
fidence and love. In short that was
about the same process used in carry
ing forward the mission work In all Its
phases of teaching, preaching, and do
mesticating these good people. You
must be continually on the Job year In
and year out through a scries of many
years. It is the Impact of continuity
of service that finally gete results that
will abide In such work. This has
been very true of the mission work
on the Umatilla reservation. During
was getting his bearings, gaining the
confidence of the people, perfecting
himself In the lnngunire nothing seems
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have been just marking time to some
critics- of those early days. Bo much
so that some at least urged that the
mission be discontinued. But the Im
pact of faithfulness and continuity of
service In teaching and preaching -
like the prophet of old "Precept upon
proeept, precept upon precept; line
upon line, line upon line, h'-ro a little
and t;idre a llfthj'- began to fructify
In the transformed lives of many of
the people, both Old and young, after
a nu rubor of years. Then the power
of example of those already converted
began to exert its Influence. It at
once became trueas In any other line
of endeavor that "nothing succeeds
like success." Men and women seeing
ine transformed lives of their fellow
men began to realize that there must
surely be some real "kick" In such a
religious faith, if It so worked in
others' lives. They too were wllllna
toe infected witti the same microbe.
I have seen tnese Inu:an people de
velope mentally, morally, religiously
and socially during these 21 year
In many remarkable ways. The gov
ernment ha maintained a splendid
boarding school for all the children.
Two years ago this school was replac
ed by several day schools. Morul and
religious Instruction has been given by
a Catholic mission which has a school
in connection; and by tho Presbyter
ian 'Homo Mission Beard through Its
mission though no school. In
many 'business and social ways most i
of these people have made Just aa good
progreaa. Tepees have given way to
cottages,' and many have very nice
homes well cared for and furnished
In years past the people have always
had' good means of transportation in
the form of good driving teams, hacks
and buggies. These have in turn given
Place to the best of automobiles.
Much business is done by the Indiana
In Pendleton and other towns near
the reservation. Their credit is
good as that 'of other citizens. The
merchants know their Indian trade as
their white trade and treat them the
acme. The Christian Indians are in
terested In the elections and generally
cast their votes as other citizens. This
was especially true when the "wet"
and "dry" campaign was on in Oregon,
The Tutuilla temperance society roll
ed up a solid "dry"' vote which helped
to swell the "dry totals very mater
ially. During the war the Indians
were good loyal citizens and played
the gum in, every detail. Their eons
crossed the seas in the service of their
country and liberty bonds were bought
to the amount of many thousands of
dollars. Generous contributions were
made for all war work.
Someone haa asked about the ties of
friendship and love between the white
missionary and the Indian people. Is
such relationship mutual? In the first
place let me say so as to avoid all mis
understanding, Jn any business enter
prise. Institution, project or mission
you will find some objector. But the
other side has been more prevalent
and (dominant. The -mutual esteem
and love existing between the mission
ary arid the people has been far more
often to the front. Love for all and
service for all haa been the policy.
Just one example from many will show
something of the esteem. Wrhen I waa
leaving for France to enter the service
In Y. M. C. A. war work it happened
to be Memorial Day 1918. A service
was being held at the grave yard Just
back of the Tutuilla church. Uy re
quest of the crowd of Christian In
diana present the. missionary was ask- j
ed to designate a resting place in the
grave yard for his body In case he did
not return alive. He was also asked to
make arrangements in his will and
through hi insurance that his body be
returned to be buried in that designat
ed tipot. This was all done In good
faith and such arrangements made.
It- waS' a touching Incident and got
under the skin of the missionary to
think thut the Teople to whom and for
whom he had gii'en his life and train
ing desired his bones to rest with
them till the resurrection morn. Then
there was another tug of heart when
at the close of the Service the mission
ary found three big cars lined up each
vielng with the other for the distinc
tion of taking the missionary for his
last ride to the train before leaving
for New York and on to France.
There waa a Hudson six and two
Ruick sixes. In the Hudson there was
not a soul except a little 17 year old
girl whom the missionary had baptiz
ed In Infancy and later received Into
the church. Which should It 'be? All
waited the decision. I did not -wish to
Blv any offense to any one-of the peo
ple yet It wna a physical Impossibility
to ride to town in three cars. While
h thua hesitated a sharp command
come from that little black eyea giri
which wna heard by all the rest In
line. "You get in here Mr. Cornel
Ison, you asked me several days ago to
take you to the train, and now I am
here to do it. " She flashed defiance
at the other drivers who were men.
Tho missionary humbly obeyed. The
car plunged forward and the other
cars ate her dust al the way to town.
It waa thua I left .the mission work
at Tutuilla and by consent of the Pres
bytery of 'Pendleton entered overseas
Y, M. C. A. work. I Joined the motor
transport department as a truck driv
er for the reason that I desired to get
right Into the thick of the fight and
work right down among the men and
Jtist as near the front lines as a wel
fare worker -waB allowed to go. I got
my desire to my hearts delight. In
Pari after a conference I was assign
ed to the 2"th New York division
which waa at the time of my arrival
fighting In Belgium "in Flanders
fields" Just back of Kcmmel Hill and
Ypres. Then the "Y" was very short:
of transportation so I wa sent for
about ten days to conduct a canteen
clone behind the lines, so close that
we were not allowed to open the can
teen till dark. For Just as soon as any
one got out In the road .before the can
teen the whia bungs began to come
over.
Before we left Belgium I got my
Fordi truck. I did my first motor
transport work In and around Proven,
Belgium. I had my first experience in
driving in the pitch darkness on
strange roads where no lights were al
lowed. I finally developed regular
owl eyea and didn't need any lights. 1
, followed that same 27th division dur
ing tht rati of tut war into rest camp
Hied
My '
tunnel. Thin the German had fi!U:
with a whole division of troopH.
old Kurd wus Ken going and coming
eo much and I wan always oh It or;
under It no a to keep ft rolling1 that
It became known a "Jlmmy'n Kwet-
mtart inrougnoui.ine oivnnon. i nv ; i
vow nrmirl or m v fwftrf1 uttri thul i
name Ford. It waff old When It came
Itito my hand, yet 1 kept It In rpa4r i
and rolHnir for the nine month that ; ' "-4
I wan driving1 In th hardest puHnlble j
wrvice. ' Two other new Kord that)
werft handled bv other drive were
done for and In the Junk pilo ft they ! 3
tried to do what my old Ford wai do
ing alone. While the 27th and 30th.
diviftfom were helping the lirUinh
army to break the Hlndenburg line at
the St. Quintln canal we wero In Btich
devnutated country and where no civi
lians had hern tor nearly four yeani
that H waa impowible to get a cook
for the" 20 or more "Y" men that were
following the 27th. division. I con
seiited to get dewn from my Ford
throne and coek fw nearly a month
tilt we were ready to come out of the
llnea late in October.
After that I continued to drive till
In May 1919 I wa nent out from head
quarters Into the Ballon region out of :
Le Mans to do repair work on Ford I
cars. Home time later In May the
large Cafeteria opened In Ie Mans by
the T. M. C. A. wai having trouble.
A phone message came to Ballon say-
iiiK. 'Tell Jtmmy to comp into Le Miins
bag and baggage." When I arrived
the management showed me the big
Cafeteria and Its possibilities. 1 began
that work and enjoyed it very much
for It was a place where one could do
real service for the men as they came
through that embarkation center. We
fed from 1500 to 2000 per day. with
the bent of food and at a most reason- :
ntJe rate. Later In June we started an
!ce cream factory in one side of the
big "Y" building where we made from
100 to 150 gallons of ice cream per
day. Kvery bit of this ice tream was
served to the men in the various
camps and billets absolutely free of
cost. It was done as, welfare work.
The Cafeteria and ,ke cream plant
were conducted till August 1919 when!
the embarkation center waa closed.
While operating the Cafeteria and ice
cream plant fl had at my service a ton
truck, a lighter truck and a touring
car. I turned two of them into head
quarters and drove the touring car
into Paris where I turned it Into head
quarters there. I left Paris about the
middle of August 1919 and came home
by way of Brest. I left New York
about August 25 visiting Washington
D. C. and then my old home and peo
ple at Richmond. Ky. for a Tew days.
arrived in Pendleton September 15,
919 during the week when the Vlctor
Hound-Up was on. I am glad to be
home still In one piece for I am re
minded of the fact aa I look over my
daily diary which I kept carefully
while in France, that I muwed hun
dreds of good chances to be killed.
When shells were coming over either
night or day I am wilting' to-say that
I never sought safety in a dougout, but
I am just aa frank to say that I duck
ed my head on several occasions on
tho principle of "safety first' so aa to
let them go by, even though the pass
ing' whiz banga might have Tieen 100
to 600 feet above my head. Those
that went on far and those that drop
per nearby made the same tune till
they hit somewhere, so what could a
fellow do but instinctively duck.
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